Summer Pond and Summer Haze

Summer Pond (8″ x 10″ oil on panel)

There are some wonderful gardens around and it is always delightful to be able to paint plein air at someone else’s place! The gorgeous pink waterlilies were still blooming while orange lilies bent at the edge of the pond. I wanted to capture the brightness of the sun on the leaves and the shadowy depths of the pond. There were all kinds of creatures around enjoying the space like hummingbirds and bees. I took the chance to quickly sketch in a dragonfly when one lit in front of me. It really completes the summer vibe.

Summer Haze (6″ x 8″ oil on panel)

The same afternoon, I did another view focusing in on the waterlilies from the other side. Again, my goal was to capture the bright sun on the lilies and lily pads and the contrast of the dark water. The quality of light had a hot hazy summer feeling hence the title.

(C) 2022 Hilary Farmer

Tranquility

Tranquility (11″ x 14″ oil on panel)

I spent several days on this one layering up the paint and carving out the shapes …exploring until I felt I had achieved the feeling I was looking for …tranquility. This was done as a commission but with complete free rein in terms of subject and execution. I feel both grateful and humbled to be given this kind of freedom in a commission. The location where it will hang has a spa-like calm feeling so I wanted to build on that with this painting. The yellow waterlilies (or spadderdocks) are reminders for them of canoeing on the Ontario lakes they love.

(C) 2022 Hilary Farmer

Lily-pond

Lily-pond (12″ x 12″ oil on canvas)

I painted this one for a specific local show which isn’t until January but I wanted to make sure it would be dry in lots of time for varnishing. All the paintings in the show will be the same format (12″ x 12″) and the same price but all different styles and subjects. I really hope mine appeals to someone …who doesn’t like waterlilies, right?!

Tom wrote a poem for this one about the power of illusions.

Some days I think that I could walk across
the mirror-surface of this lily-pond
stepping on the stones of green and gloss
all my weight supported by the fronds
of floating pads. Their vines are columns, stone
could not provide as much support or strength
as their living sinews, summer-grown
from roots and stems, prodigious in length.
Could I not walk on water, dance on air?
Could I not just this once defy the laws?
Could I not touch the face of one so fair?
Could I not have effect without a cause?
Some days there are illusions that have power
But none so great as one strong lily’s flower.

image (c) 2020 Hilary Farmer
poem (c) 2020 TJ Radcliffe

autumn pond…

autumn pond

Another painting from my visit to the Sun Yat-sen Garden in Vancouver. This one focused on the lily pads and reflections from the shore and sky.

Tom’s haiku for this one is …just perfect.

another world waits
through the water’s weathered glass
koi pass bare branches

And if you have a taste to see what this garden looks like …and feels like, check out this short film commissioned by the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Garden Society of Vancouver. Tom wrote the screen play and it really captures the place in a special way.

 

image (c) 2017 Hilary Farmer
poem (c) TJ Radcliffe

 

underwater lily pads and haiku…

surreal umbrellas

This is the third and last in the series of paintings I started during a course last fall with Melanie Matthews and finished recently. Once again I have struggled with taking a reasonable photograph of the piece. This one has a fair amount of texture making it especially difficult. There are also some reflective metallics – so it changes a lot depending on the light and angle.
The under water feeling I was trying to create was wonderfully captured by Tom’s haiku.

surreal umbrellas
shelter depths from raining light
currents blowing wind

(c) 2013 TJ Radcliffe

underwater detail

painting mixed media on board 12″x12″ (cc) 2013 Hilary Farmer

Here’s a fun  art blog and check out this lovely watercolour with a wonderful piece of fortune cookie advice – and it doesn’t just work for artists!

curious koi and haiku…

curious koi

Another in the series from the last post. Tom’s haiku is clearer in this one since fewer layers were added after the text.

opening their eyes
curious koi might enquire
after the abyss

(c) 2013 TJ Radcliffe

It is hard to see this painting well in a photograph since the texture catches the light. Actually, the painting looks very different under different lighting conditions. The detail below was taken later in the day and shows another feeling… more abyss-like!

the abyss

Playing with texture but using a similar palette with metallics to make a visual connection with the previous water lily painting.

image (cc) 2013 Hilary Farmer
12″x12″mixed media on panel

On another note, you will find a new link – twig and leaf – in my blog roll. Here’s a recent lovely post.

Have a great week!